Paul Allan Wehrum, Sr., DO

Age 82, in recent years of Hilliard, Ohio, on August 1, 2013 at the Laurels of Hilliard of natural causes.Paul, Sr. or “Doc” was born in Buffalo, NY on October 20, 1930 to John C. H. Wehrum and Ruth (Jones) Wehrum. He graduated from South Park High School in 1948 and then attended the University of Buffalo where he served as Editor of the university newspaper “The Spectrum”. Paul’s mother died unexpectedly when he was only 17, which kindled his desire to pursue a career in medicine. He attended the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, a graduate of the class of 1956. While a medical student at CCOM, he met and then married the love of his life, Bonnie Rose Humphrey. Paul completed his internship at Doctors Hospital (North) in Columbus, OH in 1957. Following internship,Paul became a founding staff member of Brentwood Hospital (now South Pointe) in Cleveland, Ohio. He and his Family Practice partner, Frederick J. Jaeger, DO were among the first House Physicians at Brentwood. They also worked in the Emergency Room at times, while developing their Family Medicine practice in Bedford, OH. The 2 physicians did House Calls, OB/deliveries, 1st - assisted many of theirpatients’ surgeries in addition to taking care of inpatients at the hospital and their office patients. Paul, Sr. served as President of the Cleveland Academy of Osteopathic Medicine and also as an officer of the Ohio Osteopathic Association (OOA). In 1976, Paul served as a co-chair of the Cleveland Swine Flu Task Force which promoted widespread immunization. He served in the medical corps of the US Army Reserve for many years, and served one year of active duty during the Desert Storm conflict, 1991-1992. In 1992, he was designated as a Fellow of the ACOFP, the American College of Osteopathic FamilyPhysicians, one of their highest honors. He served as a Delegate to the Ohio Osteopathic Association Board of Delegates for more than 3 decades.Paul, Sr. practiced Family Medicine for over 50 years in the Cleveland, OH region during which he served thousands of patients. He and Bonnie raised their family in Bedford, OH. He enjoyed a number of family activities, including travel, sailboat racing, and fishing for walleye and northern pike on Dumoine Lake in Quebec, Canada. He was a voracious reader and had an interest in history, especially US Military history. He was very knowledgeable about the US Civil War and World Wars I and II. In his youth he was a Boy Scout in Buffalo, NY and achieved the rank of Life. He strongly encouraged his sons and grandsons to participate in Scouting. He was a firm believer in higher education. All three of his sons (Paul, Jr., Henry and Mark) became Osteopathic Physicians and his daughter (Jessica) became an Attorney. In July of 2012, he was thrilled to be present at the promotion (to the rank of Colonel in the US Army) of his son, Mark John, at a local ceremony in Hilliard, OH and the recent graduation party of his grandson, Brent, in July of 2013, in Dublin. He had a very quick wit and loved to make others laugh. Paul was a superior storyteller, as was his sister, Shirley. Paul was extremely proud of his family, which he considered his greatest achievement and his legacy.Paul, Sr. is survived by his former spouse, Bonnie R. Humphrey, his children: Paul, Jr. (Mysti) of Zanesville OH, Henry (Anne Marie) of Columbus OH, Jessica Kerger (Richard) of Toledo OH, and Mark (Dawn) of Aberdeen, NC, and grandchildren: Shawn, Nickolas, Thomas, Samantha, Amanda, Brent, Tyler, Christopher, Connor, Eric, Jack, Ben, Angela, Carter, Caroline, Carliegh and Cade. He was pre-deceased by his only sibling, Shirley Ruth Arias (Horacio) of Tampa, Florida and his parents.The family would like to offer it’s heartfelt thanks to the patient care staff at the Laurels of Hilliard, especially Jackie Little and also Paul’s attending physician for the last 5 years, Thomas McEldowney, DO.Arrangements are being handled by the Schoedinger Midtown Chapel, at 229 E. State Street, Columbus OH 43215. The memorial service will be held on Sunday, October 13th at South Pointe Hospital Auditorium at 2PM. The address is: 20000 Harvard Ave., Warrensville Heights, Ohio 44122.The hospital phone number is: (216) 491-6000. Memorial donations can be made in Dr. Wehrum’s name to the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, Development Office, 555 31st Street, Downers Grove, Illinois 60515.